UK: football leagues retreat in row about media rights

Posted by Val�rie Gazzano on November 17, 2004 at 11:26 AM

The ongoing row between British newspapers and football authorities seem to have reached a time-out as a compromise has been agreed upon over the weekend. According to Owen Wilson from The Guardian: "Talks between the Newspaper Publishers' Association and the Premier League and the Football League have progressed well, and an agreement in principle has been reached," they said in a joint statement, adding that the current arrangements would remain in place in the meantime." "The newspapers' hand was strengthened last week when the European Court of Justice ruled that the leagues could not charge for the publication of fixture lists and match information", reports Brand Republic's Colin Grimshaw.

"The papers refused to accept a list of demands including provisions that digital publication of match photographs should be subject to a two-hour time delay and that up to 7% of revenues from fantasy football competitions should be returned to clubs, " said Owen Gibson. But according to Colin Grimshaw: in return for the retraction of the demands of the football leagues, "the papers have agreed some time restrictions on website and mobile phone reporting of matches."

Source: MediaGuardian and Brand Republic